Sen. J.D. Ford

Provides that, except in certain circumstances, a person may not hold or use a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle. Removes prohibitions on typing, transmitting, or reading a text message or an electronic mail message while operating a moving motor vehicle. Provides that the bureau may not assess points under the point system for a violation occurring before July 1, 2021.

Provides that: (1) a health benefits plan; or (2) an employee health plan; may not require authorization for services specified in a covered individual's individualized family service plan once the individualized family service plan is signed by a physician. Adds habilitative services to the services that are required under the definition of "early intervention services" for purposes of the First Steps program. Provides that a member of the interagency coordinating council (council) shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed. Removes the authority of the governor to designate the chairperson of the council or to call a meeting of the council. Requires the council to annually elect a chairperson and vice chairperson. Provides that, except for members of the general assembly, per diem and travel expenses for council members are governed by the policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency. Establishes procedures that the division must follow before making a change to the cost participation schedule under the First Steps program. Establishes a method to determine the rate at which: (1) a provider of the services under the First Steps program; or (2) the division; is reimbursed for providing early intervention services using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code rates. Provides that: (1) a health plan information card issued: (A) to an insured by an insurer for a policy of accident and sickness insurance; or (B) to an enrollee by a health maintenance organization (HMO); must indicate the type of health plan that is providing the health benefits and services under the insurance policy or HMO contract; and (2) these requirements apply only to a health plan information card issued: (A) initially to a new insured or new enrollee; or (B) to an insured or enrollee at the time of the insured's or enrollee's policy or contract renewal; after July 1, 2020. Provides that: (1) the electronic database by which an issuer of a policy of accident and sickness insurance, or an administrator of a self insured plan, allows an insured or a provider to verify the coverage or benefits of an insured must indicate: (A) whether health benefits and services under the policy of accident and sickness insurance are provided by the issuer of the policy or by a third party administrator; and (B) whether the policy of accident and sickness insurance is subject to state or federal regulation; and (2) the electronic database by which by which an HMO, or an administrator of benefits and health care services under an HMO contract, allows an enrollee or a provider to verify the coverage or benefits of an enrollee must indicate: (A) whether benefits and health care services under the HMO contract are provided by the HMO or by a third party administrator; and (B) whether the HMO contract is a self funded or fully funded plan. Requires the department of insurance to adopt rules to ensure compliance with certain provisions added by the bill.

Adds a school resource officer to the definition of "public safety officer" as it relates to the public employee benefits special death benefit fund (fund). Provides that a school resource officer qualifies for the fund if the school resource officer is not otherwise entitled to a line of duty benefit under the 1925 police pension fund, 1953 police pension fund (Indianapolis), or the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund.

Requires employees and volunteers of a child care facility who may be present on the premises of the child care facility during operating hours to submit to a national criminal history background check. (Under current law, employees and volunteers who have direct contact with children must submit to a national criminal history background check.) Specifies that results of the background check may be used as grounds for denial or revocation of a child care license or registration or eligibility for a child care and development fund voucher payment. Makes technical corrections.

Increases, from $150,000 to $225,000, the special death benefit for certain public safety officers, certain motor carrier inspectors, certain special police employees, members of the 1925 police pension fund, the 1937 firefighters' pension fund, the 1953 police pension fund, and the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who die in the line of duty after June 30, 2020. Provides that the board shall determine contributions and contribution rates for individual employers or for a group of employers necessary to adequately maintain the special death benefit fund. Provides that, for certain police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers, the cost of the coverage is in addition to the contribution determined by the board.

Removes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) from the statutory definition of "exposure risk disease". Replaces the term "AIDS" with the term "human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)" where appropriate. Replaces the term "carrier" with the term "individual with a communicable disease" where appropriate. Replaces the term "danger" with the term "risk" where appropriate. Replaces the term "spread" with the term "transmission" where appropriate. Replaces the term "HIV antibody" with "human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)" where appropriate. Requires the state department of health (department) to specify, in any literature provided to children and young adults concerning HIV, that abstinence is the best way to prevent the transmission of HIV as a result of sexual activity. Provides that a physician or the authorized representative of a physician may not order an HIV test unless the physician or the authorized representative of a physician: (1) informs the patient of the test orally or in writing; (2) provides the patient with an explanation of the test orally, in writing, by video, or by a combination of these methods; and (3) informs the patient orally or in writing of the patient's right to ask questions and to refuse the test. Requires the information to be communicated to the patient in a language or manner that the patient understands. Requires a physician or an authorized representative of the physician to inform a patient of the counseling services and treatment options available to the patient if an HIV test indicates that the patient is HIV positive. Requires a patient to be notified of their right to a: (1) hearing; and (2) counsel; in certain situations involving a court ordered HIV test. Specifies that the use of antiretroviral drugs and other medical interventions may lessen the likelihood of transmitting HIV to a child during childbirth. (Current law states that birth by caesarean section may lessen the likelihood of transmitting HIV to a child during childbirth). Provides that the requirement to dispose of semen that contains the HIV antibody does not apply if the semen is used according to safer conception practices endorsed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other generally accepted medical experts. Revises the definition of "health care provider". Provides that a patient is considered to have consented to: (1) testing for the presence of a dangerous communicable disease of a type that has been epidemiologically demonstrated to be transmittable by an exposure of the kind experienced by the affected health care provider; and (2) the release of testing results to a medical director or an affected physician in the event of an exposure; if the patient is unable to consent to testing or the release of test results due to physical or mental incapacity. Allows a health care provider or a health care provider's employer to petition a court for an order requiring a patient to provide a blood or bodily fluid specimen in certain instances. Allows a health care provider, a health care provider's employer, or the state department of health to request certain test results when a patient is a witness, bystander, or victim of alleged criminal activity in certain instances. Provides that a health care provider may request a notification concerning exposure to certain communicable diseases in certain instances. Allows a health care provider to designate a physician to receive certain test results following a possible exposure to certain communicable diseases. Requires a health care provider to be notified of an exposure to certain communicable diseases not later than 48 hours after certain notifications have been issued. Requires a health care provider to be provided with: (1) medically necessary treatment; and (2) counseling; following an exposure to certain communicable diseases. Requires a suicide and overdose fatality review team (SOFR team) to review certain suicide and overdose fatalities. Allows a SOFR team to make recommendations concerning the prevention of suicide and overdose fatalities. Specifies membership, record keeping, and data entry requirements for SOFR teams. Renumbers the article concerning suicide and overdose fatality teams for purposes of conflict resolution. Requires a syringe exchange program to: (1) provide testing for communicable diseases and provide services or a referral for services if the individual tests positive; and (2) establish a referral process for program participants in need of information or education concerning communicable diseases or health care. Requires the state department of health to include certain information concerning syringe exchange programs in the report to the general assembly before November 1, 2020. Extends the expiration date for certain syringe exchange programs from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments and technical corrections.

Beginning January 1, 2021, allows a physician assistant who: (1) performs under a collaborative agreement that allows the physician assistant to certify the cause of death and submit death records as delegated by the collaborating physician; and (2) is last in attendance upon the deceased; and (3) certifies the cause of death of a deceased individual; to enter or sign a record on a death into the Indiana death registration system. Beginning January 1, 2021, allows an advanced practice registered nurse who is last in attendance upon the deceased to certify the cause of death of a deceased individual and to enter or sign a record on a death into the Indiana death registration system. Provides that one of the registered nurses appointed to the Indiana state board of nursing (board) must be an advanced practice registered nurse who has, or has had, prescriptive authority. Amends the qualifications of registered nurse members and practical nurse members of the board.

Amends the law mandating coverage for colorectal cancer testing under accident and sickness insurance policies, health maintenance organization contracts, and state employee health plans to change the minimum age at which coverage must be provided from 50 years of age to 45 years of age. Includes exception for high deductible health plans.

Requires each person or entity having authority over a school building to test the drinking water in the school building before January 1, 2023, to determine whether the drinking water equals or exceeds the action level for lead of 15 parts per billion. Provides that the testing requirement is satisfied if the drinking water of a school building: (1) was tested during the lead sampling program for school buildings conducted by the Indiana finance authority (IFA) in 2017 and 2018; (2) is tested in the lead sampling program conducted by the IFA in 2019 and 2020; or has otherwise been tested for compliance with the federal drinking water standards at least once since 2016. Requires that drinking water in school buildings located in Lake County be tested at least once in each period of two calendar years beginning in 2023. Provides that if a test of the drinking water of a school building indicates the presence of lead in the water equal to or greater than 15 parts per billion, the person or entity having authority over the school building is required to take action to reduce the lead levels in the drinking water to less than 15 parts per billion. Provides that the person or entity having authority over a school building that is subject to drinking water testing is required to seek state and federal money that is available for lead sampling or testing.

Requires the state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities (council) to develop a plan to inform: (1) certain former students who received a certificate of completion or another nondiploma certificate of recognition; and (2) certain former students who had an individualized education program, plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, service plan, or choice scholarship education plan and who withdrew from school; of certain resources and opportunities. Requires the council to submit, not later than October 1, 2020, a copy of the plan to the general assembly.